Burt's Season A Learning Process

PHILADELPHIA — Skating is a little more complicated than bicycle riding, as Adam Burt discovered. One does not forget how to ride a bike.

Burt forgot how to skate.

Oh, it's not like he was falling down or anything. The Whalers defenseman built an NHL career with his remarkable sturdiness and mobility. He could skate. And then, he couldn't.

``Usually, when things weren't going well for me in the past, I could always fall back and play sound defense,'' Burt said. ``But I was skating so terribly, I was taking dumb minors [penalties] all over the place. Skating had always been my strength. I lost it.''

How?

``I have no idea,'' Burt said. ``It's sounds crazy, but I can't put my finger on it. You look at the tapes before and after, and it was apparent what the problem was for me earlier this season. I couldn't skate. It's the truth.''

None of the Whalers skated Sunday. They could not find a rink that was available for practice in the Philadelphia area. But coach Paul Maurice wasn't fretting. He figured the Whalers could use the rest after playing three road games in four days.

They'll complete the critical trip tonight against Eric Lindros and the Flyers at the Spectrum. Burt and No. 88 will have some contact, to be sure.

Burt's skating problem is clearly in the ``after'' phase. He is coming off a pair of ties against the Ottawa Senators and the Washington Capitals in which he was among the best players on the ice every shift.

The big picture of Burt's season can be interpreted through his plus- minus rating.

Through the first 35 games, Burt was a minus-17, a badge of dishonor for a defenseman.

Over the past 36 games, Burt has been a plus-19.

``When you take a look at what Adam has gone through, you really have to give him a lot of credit,'' Maurice said. ``He has overcome a lot. He was probably bothered by that shoulder injury [which forced him to miss three games in late November] more than anybody realized, and more than he let on. Since mid-December, he has slowly built his game back.

``Lately, he has just been outstanding. Not only has he been comfortable enough to jump up into the offense when he can, but he has been doing things defensively that make you stand up and notice.''

He's skating again.

``It has been an interesting year,'' Burt said. ``I guess you learn a lot when you're going through those bad times. You learn not to take things so seriously.

``There was a big stint there when I hated going to the rink. And then I was taking everything home with me. It seemed like everyone in the organization had their eye on me because I sort of filled my quota of screw-ups so early in the season.''

Burt said his religious faith, along with his wife, Susan, and his daughters, Cassandra, 4, and Elizabeth, 2, helped him.

``You could have the worst day of your life, and your kids still dig you,'' Burt said with a smile.

At the lowest point, Burt said, ``I really started thinking about life after hockey, and I was very thankful I signed a long-term deal [before last season] that gave me some security.''

Burt's contract, for three years plus an option year, is worth a potential $3.3 million. He is one of those funny fellows who actually wants to earn his money.

To that end, Burt said a midseason pairing with Brad McCrimmon, 36, helped him strip his game to the point where he could rebuild it. McCrimmon is plus-16 this season, plus-445 in his career.

``I'll never forget something Beast [McCrimmon] said years ago: `Hockey is a simple game,' '' Burt said. ``He really helped me get my game down to its simplest elements.''

All that is difficult now is the task at hand. The Whalers are eight points out of a playoff position with 11 games to play. Other than Kevin Dineen, Burt, 27, has spent more years with the Whalers than any player on the roster. Burt has the longest current run of consecutive seasons, six-plus, with the franchise.

``I've played four playoff games in six years,'' Burt said. ``If you're around for a while, you start to think, `Am I ever going to get a chance to hoist [the Stanley Cup] over my head?' That's what drives you.''